10 Video Games That Totally Nailed Their Final Levels

4. Dark Souls

A game as tough and unrelenting as Dark Souls shouldn't let up for even a second - that's all part of the experience. Having journeyed through Lordran and acquired the four Lord Souls, the player finally reaches the Kiln Of The First Flame - the final challenge that the game has to offer. Atmospherically, the Kiln Of The First Flame is incredibly well designed. The whole area is dark, cloudy and foreboding; it's designed to instill fear in any who dare set foot in the area. The ruins of once grandiose buildings (including a distant colosseum) dominate the landscape, offering hints and vague nods to Lordran's history. Environment wise, the Kiln Of The First Flame nails it but it also offers one final challenge, demanding the player prove they are worthy of besting the game. Gwyn's faithful Black Knights litter the path; a gauntlet of tough foes which the player must defeat to even get close to the final boss. Even after investing thousands of souls into levels, these Black Knights prove to be big hurdles, especially later in the level when the player has to traverse beams over bottomless pits mid-battle too. There are tougher levels in Dark Souls but those are mainly due to inexperience and punishing design; Kiln Of The First Flame is a straightforward but awe-inspiring finale and that's why it's so effective.